Corruption in choice of subject experts appeal, press meet

Manglore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 10, 2019: Members of civil society organisations in Dakshina Kannada district have urged Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala to initiate an inquiry into the nominees of University Vice Chancellor (VC) and subject experts, nominated by principals of government aided private degree colleges and university, who had been involved in corrupt practices in the appointment of assistant professors.

Samtha Sainik Dal General Secretary Lolaksha told media at Hotel Woodlands, that stringent action should be initiated if the charges were proved.

The governor should intervene and take immediate necessary administrative steps to prevent corruption and protect the rights of all applicants/teachers and students by discharging the duties as per the Government Order and UGC regulations in the best interest of the country.

Lolaksha said the government had permitted filling a few vacancies in teaching faculty in eight government aided private degree colleges across the district.

Despite clear guidelines with regard to procedure to be followed at every stage of appointment process, the nominees of the VC and subject experts selected by the university and principals of the colleges, affiliated to Mangalore University, had indulged in corrupt and unethical practices.

They flouted all the norms and thereby defeated the very purpose of grant of permission given by the government to fill the vacancies, he alleged.

“The corrupt practices have helped college management to do whatever they intended to, including selling posts to those unfit for teaching,” he charged.

Lolaksha said the members had met Mangalore University VC Prof P S Yadapadithaya and had urged him to conduct an inquiry into such corrupt practices. They had also urged VC to write to Commissioner of Collegiate Education on not to approve the posts until the inquiry into corruption was completed.

“An institutional mechanism should be in place to prevent such unethical practices and blatant flouting of UGC guidelines,” he stressed.

Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education Dr Appaji Gowda S B when contacted mentioned that one complaint filed against a college was disposed off.

A lecturer in Botany had filed a complaint with the JD accusing SVS College in Bantwal for not inviting him to attend the interview.

“The college in response to our notice, informed that the candidate was not eligible for the post and had not invited him to the interview,” Gowda said and added that the selection committees were yet to submit a final list of candidates selected for the posts.

“If there are any specific complaints, I will issue notices to colleges and will inform to commissioner,” he said.